Apparatus for sealing containers under vacuum or gas



Oct. 5, v W M RYAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUMOR GAS Filed Feb. e, 193s 1o sheets-sheet 1 PIE-1.1

lllll Oct. 5, 1937. w M RYAN ET AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER ACUUM OR GAS Filed Feb. a, 19531o sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS W. MlLES RYAN BY JOHN W. BOLD LA )hva/SilATTORNEY- I Oc't. 5, 1937. w. M. RYAN ET AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS Filed Feb. 8, 1933l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 5, 1937. w. M. RYAN ET AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS Filed Feb.I a,19:53 1o sheets-sheet 4 firmw- INVENTOR5 W- Ml Les RYAN BY JOHN W. BOLDATTORNEY;

Oct. 5', 1937. w. M RYAN T AL APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDERVACUUM OR GAS v Filed Feb. 8, 1953 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS W. MILESRYAN J'OHN W. BOLD ATTORNEY- Oct. 5, 1937. w. M. RYAN Er AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS Filed Feb, 8, 1933l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 I T1515. PIE-1.16.56

INVENTORS wMsLEs RYAN BY JOHN woLD Ochs, 1937. AW, M RYAN ETALy2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS FiledFeb. 8, 1933.10 Sheets-Sheet-7 .Mimi

A ZI5 o o c (K8 INVENTORS v WMILES RYAN [I BY JoHN w.BoLD

ATTORN EY-f Oc. 5, 1937. w M RYAN Er AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS F'led Feb. 8, 195310 Sheets-Sheet 8 v Oct. 5, W. M. RYAN ET AL APPARATUS FOR SEALINGCONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS Filed Feb. 8, 1933 `l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Iflll 1f r '7.5 220 .L a /ff 50 v Z.77- y 5bl l 4 4' zos v v zb b I: 5606 11 'b 501i- 56 V' 7 Y f l n INVENTORS 4 t www5-RYAN i BY JQHN W.BOLD I A 60h ATTORNEY l Oct. 5, 1937. W. M. RYAN ET AL 2,094,753

APPARATUS FOR SEALING CONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM 0R GAS Filed Feb. 8, 19253A 10 .Sheets-Sheet 10 l.' "-...U -n "J IIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHHMIlIlIlIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HHIIILIHIIIIH Il nlm .m

El d *v ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 5, 1937 APPARATUS FOR- SEALINGCONTAINERS UNDER VACUUM OR GAS 'william Miles Ryan and John w. Bold,Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Ryan Coffee Corporation, New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application February 8, 1933, Serial No.655,733

8,4 Claims.

This invention relates tosealing and packing machines for sealing andlpacking commercial commodities, either solids or liquids, such ascoffee, meats, fats, vegetables, fruit and the like, in

cans or jars or other containers,'while they are located in anair-exhausted or air-free space.

The usual process of operation consists in automatically conveying thecans with their contentsv into a partially air-exhausted room, whereinthey are fed to a capping or cover sealing or seaming machine, and thenout oi.' the sealing room onto a conveyor which in turn may carry rthecans to any suitable destination; and during the process v of entryandexit of the containers, undesirable and increased air pressure isalways introduced into the sealing room.

It has consequently been found that in feeding containers into and outof the usual sealing room, considerable losses in air-exhaustion andtherefore undesirable gains in pressure have been experienced and thattherefore each container must now be subjected to an initialair-exhausting process before passing into the sealing room so as toprevent any air entering the same, and that similar precautions must betaken in passing the containers out of the sealing room.

` It has also been found desirable to retain the contents of lthecontainers in air-,exhausted space over a certain length of time beforesealing, without, however, sacrificing any of the time elementsgenerally required in the 'process of conveying.

It is also of importance that the material in thecontainers should besubjected to the initial airexhaustion process in a most gradual manner,so as not to unduly disturb this material, as otherwise a too suddenintroduction to the rarefied air conditions of the sealing room causesthe liquids to bubble over and'fthe solicis'to` blowout, withouthowever, completing the air-exhausting process. 40 It is, therefore. oneof the objects of our invens tion to provide mechanisms by means .ofwhich the containers will be fed into the air-free sealingroominamannerwhichwillatiirstgradusllyre-- move the air from theircontents before entering AAmrthexobieutisto-subiectthecontentsof'thecontainerstoansir-processof canp'aratively long duration without,however,sscriiicinganyofthetimewhichisdinarilyrequiredto-feedscontaineintoandwtofasen`room. Anctherobiect ofourinvention istoemploysmethodofconveyingsealablecontsmentoasealingmomwhiohmethodcoubtsinmovinganoupeiecnnmevsmsmmummmrmmemrmt distance of travel for a completedisplacement of the group.

A still further object of our invention is to provide valve chambers atthe intake and output sides of the air-free sealing room to preventchanges of pressure within this room while the containers are beingconveyed to and from the same and .are

being sealed within the room.

Another object is to have the containers, when passing through eachwalvechamber, stoptherein for a certain length of time.

It is also an object of this invention to exhaust the air from intakeand output valve chambers `in controllable graduated stages while thecontainers are stationary.

A further object of this invention is to employ a new control device forthe operation of the conveying mechanism as'well as valves and thecontrois thereof, so as to simplify the operation of the, completemechanisms, increase production,

and lower the costs thereof.

A still further object is to provide an air-tightl sealing room fromwhich not alone air may be exhausted, but'which also may be filled witha gas other than air, suitable for contact with and the preservation ofthe contents of the containers.

Another object is to provide means, whereby the gas in the sealing roomwill not be subjected to a diminution in quantity through the operationof f passing the cans into and out of the sealing room. t Another objectis to provide mechanisms which are arranged in a manner to make alltheir elements as well as the conveyed containers easily accessible andreadily removable, so as to permit instant relief if jams occur, therebyeliminating damages and further lowering the cost of operatin.

Aiurther kobject offthis invention is to provide vpressure-controlledand Aoperated mechanisms whichV are simple in'construction andoperation, en icient as well as durable and which require comparativelylittle space in their installation. Other-and important objects will bepointed out in the following spediication and particularly set forth inthe mioined claims.

1 A preferable construction of our invention is shown-in theaccompanying drawings of which:

Pig.lisaplanviewofanaircontrolledsealing machineormechanism.

Fig. 2.is a view otfsame on line Fig. 3 is a front-'view o! sealingmachine, showing also the input or delivery mechanbm Fig. 4 is asectional side view of this delivery mechanism on line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of a push bar, operated by a piston.

Fig. 6 is a sectional top view of the can lifting device on line 9 6,Fig. 4.'

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the output or discharge mechanism with canconveyances.

Fig. 8 is a sectional side view of a gate-operated bar-lifting device online 8 8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional side view of a push-bar operatable by a piston online 9 9, Fig-7.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the intake shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic View of the system of air-operated conveyancesand controls thereof as applied in connection with the sealing room.

Fig. 12 is a front view of a master control valve on line I2--I2, Fig.3.

Fig. 13 is a sectional side view of same on line |3-I3, Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional front view of the master control valve on lineIII-I4, Fig. 13.

Figs. 15, 16, 17, and 18 illustrate partial sectional side views of thecan inlet or delivery mechanism of the sealing machine, depicting thevarious. stages of moving a can or cans during part of a cycle ofoperation.

Figs. 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 illustrate partial sectional side views ofthe can output or discharge mechanism of the sealing machine, depictingvarious stages-of the removal lof can or 'cans from the sealing room.

Fig. 24 shows a side elevation, partly in section, vof an intakemechanism with a modified form of lifting device.

Figs. 25 and 26 are respectively plan and front views of same on asomewhat reduced scale.

Figs. 27 and 28 show respective sectional plan and side views of part ofan intake mechanism with a cycle yof operations diierent from thatpreviously described, on respective lines 2'I 21, Fig. 28 and 28 28,Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a part of a push bar operating device.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of part of the valve 4,

gates of this mechanism.

Figs. 31 to 34 illustrate partial side views of the intake mechanism ofFigs. 27 and 28 depicting the cycle `of operation during a delivery of acan from the conveyor towards the inside ofthe Vsealing room.

Fig. 35 is a partial sectional plan view of a modified form of theintake mechanism illustrated in Figs. 27 and 28.

Figs. 36 to 39 show partial sectional side views of-the mechanism ofFig. 35 depicting various stages of displacement of the containers. Y

Fig. 40 is a partial sectional side view without the resting chambershown in Figs. 36 t0739.

Fig.l 41 is a plan view of a sealing machine.

Fig. 42 is an end. view o'f a sealing machine partly in section on line,42' 42, Fig. 2.

Fig/43 is a, partial diagrammatic View of that of Fig. 11. The modifiedmechanisms of Fig. 43 illustratean arrangement for sealing containersunder gas.

Throughout the specification and drawings similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, sealing room I with its enclosure or housing2 has located therein a sealing machine 3. To this sealing machine arebeing fed sealable containers, such as cans 4,'

having therein foodstuffs or other commodities.

'I'hese cans are delivered on a belt or chain conveyor 5 to an intake ordelivery mechanism 6 which is preferably mounted on va wall I1 of thehousing 2. Cans 4 are delivered to the sealing room with their coverattached, loosely held in their proper place, so as to permit air to beextracted from the cans.

Intake mechanism 6 delivers the cans into the `sealing room onto aconveyor I which in turn feeds the containers into the' sealing machine3, wherein their respective covers or caps are hermetically sealed so asto make the contents perfectly air-proof.

After the sealing process, the cans are delivered to conveyors 8 and 9which place theA same in front of wall I8 of room I opposite the wallI1. The cans are then transferred by a discharge mechanism I0 mounted onthe wall I8,

onto a belt or chain conveyor II outside the room/ which carries thecans away.

Sealing roomI has mounted on its top a driving mechanism operated by amotor I5. This mechanism drives the sealing machine as well as controlmechanisms and various conveyors as will be described more particularlyhereinafter.

On the top of the sealing room is also mounted Intake mechanismReferring to Figs. 1 to 23, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, the intakeor delivery mechanism 6 comprises in the main a master control valve I9,an inlet valve20 with mechanisms for opening and closing the same, acontainer lifting device 2l and a container transmitting `or pushingmechanism 22, Fig. 5.

The details of construction of these four principal parts, and theirrelated functions thereof, may be described as follows:

Cans 4 are delivered to the front, or intake side, of the machine bymeans of conveyor 5 which is driven by a motor 28, Fig'. 3 throughcustomary worm gearing 29 and mounted on a. bracket 32 on wall I'I. Thecans are guarded on both sides bya rail 25 supported by brackets 21 onthe wall I1 and bent to provide spaced lengths and an end 26 which willact as a stop for the containers. Each can before reaching the frontpart of the sealing room has to passa turnstile. 35, Fig. 10, rotatableon a bracket 36 which is mounted on the stationary cross-beam 31. The

' l turnstile is operated by the moving cans on conturns a gear 39havinga stopwheel 4I.

` cover plate 50.

It's nose is engageable by a spring-operated lever 42 whichv like gear39 is. mounted on the bracket 36. The non-engageable end ofthe lever hasa spring-operated pawl '43 act uated by an extension 44, Fig.',+l,"which, is fastened to or forms apart of one ofthe slidable guiderails l5 of of engagement with thestop-wheel 4| thus releasing theturnstile to pass another group of cans towards the intake mechanism.

After the cans have been delivered in definite groups in the mannerdescribed they yare automatically raised by a lifting device 2| whichcomprises a movable frame or carriage 15, guided in a carriage holder 16fastened to the wall I1 by means of two or more brackets 11. l Thislifting device is operated by plunger 18 in cylinder 88 which isfastenedto the lower frame workv of carriage holder 16.

To the outer end of the plunger rod is 1fastened an operating plate 8|guided in foury upright angle irons 82 forming a part of the carriageholder 16.

On the top surface of plate 8| are mounted two sets of chalnguidingrollers 83, each set .engaging a chain 84 fastened at its ends to theouter and lower portions of the carriage 15 by means of bolts or pins85, Fig. 3.

'Each chain passes over two end rollers 86 and a central or pivotalroller 81. All six rollers are mounted on the top surface of thecarriage holder 16 in any suitable manner as, for instance, brackets orpillow blocks. Operating plate 8| has two extensions 88 from which aresuspended counteracting weights 89 to balance the weight vof. carriage15.

When the piston 18 pulls the table 88 downwardly, the latter will liftthe carriage 15 and the cans 4 to a position slightly above-the level ofthe floor 55 of the valve'chamber 68. This chamber which is large enoughto encase the complete group of cans located on the lifting device is ofrectangular formation and is secured to the wall I1 by means of bolts 52passing through a frame 53 located between the chamber and the wall I1.

A rectangular valve gate 56 is slidably mounted between the frame 53 andthe chamber B8. This gate is raised and lowered by means of a plunger 51in cylinder 58 mounted in\ a recess in the wall I1 in any suitablemanner, Fig. 4.

To prevent air from entering on b'oth sides of the gate at the top ofthe chamber, especially while the gate is raised, flexible sealing flaps59 are provided, preferably mounted on the top surfaces of plate 53 andchamber 68, and made of rubber, leather, asbestos, or other suitablematerial, reinforced with metal if desired. Since the flow of air willalways be directed towards and not away from the gate and chamber, theflaps will, therefore, be pressed against the surfaces of the gate thusproviding an effective seal against a potential iiow of4 air. At theouter, 1ongitudinally extended ends of the valve gate are two extensions9|, Fig. 3, to which are fastened chains 92 passing over two sprockets93 and carrying weights 95 at their other ends.

Both sprockets are rigidly secured toa common shaft 94 which isrotatably journalled in bearings or brackets 96 secured to wall I1 ofthe sealing room. l

The weights 95 serve to balance the gate 56 while the two interconnectedsprockets prevent the gate from moving unevenly, thus eliminatingbinding at the extreme ends of the gate.

A stationary cross-beam 31 is supported a short distance in front of thechamber 68 by supporting l follows:

and thereby guide and support the movement of the plate 58 to and fromthe chamber 68.

In order to provide uniform movement of the guide rails and thuspreclude a binding effect between them and the bars 6|, the latter areprovided with teeth that mesh with gears 62 which are fast to a commonshaft 63 journalled in bearings 64 on the coverplate 58. The latter isactuated by a plunger 65 in a cylinder66 secured in any suitable mannerto the front surface of crossbeam- 31. l

The back surface of coverplate 58 carries a protrusion 68 having thecontour of the opening of valve chamber 68 and serving the purpose todisplace as much' space of the interior of the valve chamber as possiblethereby gaining time required in reducing a corresponding volume of airfrom the chamber.

Below the protrusion 68 is located a push bar 10 secured to two plunger'rods 1| which operate in cylinders 12 both of which are secured to andmove with cover plate 58, Figs. 4 and 5.

The operation of the intake mechanism 6 is as The cans passing throughturnstile 35`accumulate in a row above the lifting device 2| until apredetermined number of cans have reached their destination.

After this the row of cans is lifted by the fluid operated plunger 18 toa height permitting the cans to be pushed into the valve chamber 68 bymeans of push bar 18 operatedfby plungers 1|, Figs. 15 to 18.

The cans enter chamber 68 in a group having a movement different fromthat of the group of cans passing onto the lifting device 2| or leavingthe discharge conveyor While the groupfeedon the latter two devices maybe referred to as an endwise directed feed, in that each group advancesover the end of a line, the group-feed into and out of the valvechambers shall -be referred to as a frontage formation, orfrontwisedirected feed.

After the cans have entered valve chamber 68 the carriage 15 is causedto recede. Cover plate 58 is pushed against the front surfaceof valvechamber 68 and tightly seals the latter.

The unsealed cans will now be subjected to a process of air exhaustionthrough one or more air ducts 13.

This may be brought about in a most gradual manner by means of mechanismto be described later.

After a sufficient amount of air has been exhausted from the chamber andthe air pressure therein reduced to that in the sealing room, the valvegate 56 is raised by the fluid operated plunger 51. plunger bar 14 torise to the level of the floor 55 and fill the" gap left by the gate 56.A second operation of push bar 18 delivers the cans/onto conveyor 1which delivers them to the sealing machine through a conventionalturnstile 69. 'I'he push bar 18 then returns to the coverplate 58 andthe valve gate 56 closes the chamber 68. After this air is permitted toenter the chamber through airducts 13 whereupon coverplate 58 isreturned to its initlalposition. In ,the meantime containers will againhave accumulated above the lifting device so that the `cycle oi'operation can at'once be resumed.l

This permits a spring-operated` Referring to lgs. 24, 25, andf26, thelmodified brackets |02 on the wall of the sealing room near the ends ofthe carriage. The carriage engages the rollers by means of channels |03secured to the carriage and having the inner flanges that embrace therollers |0I.

The latter is preferably made of structural iron in the form of a frame.It has vertically mounted in its front corners a pair of toothed rods orracks |04 which engage gears |05 fastened to a shaft |06 rotatable inextensions |01 of brackets |02.

These racks and gears serve positively to guide the carriagehorizontally, so as to keep the containers in level position and toprevent binding.

The carriage. when not under load is balanced by counterweights I0suspended from chains trained over guide rollers or sprockets 2 andsecured to the carriage.

The carriage is moved vertically by a plunger 18' in cylinder 80 whichis secured to wall I'l by means of a bracket H5. The outer end ofplunger 18 engages a connector or bracket which is fastened to twoangular uprights ||8 forming a part of the carriage. The conveyordelivering the cans towards the front of the sealing room may comprise abelt |20 supported by rollers 2| rotatably held in a channel or U-beam|22 or other suitable bearing support on extensions l'l. of the bracket|02. The conveyor may be driven by an electric motor and gear reductionin the manner illustrated in Fig. y3. `To prevent the `frame 15 ofcarriage |00 from spreading at the top, a bracing strip |23 is providedat the dead-end side, and across the top surfaces of the carriage; whileat the live-end side a frame or yoke |24 connects the open carriage andbraces the same' and also permits the cans to pass through the same.

The cans are guided in a rail 25 similar to that shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of the lifting device in connection with the moving partsof the valve chamber mechanisms is identical with that previouslydescribed.

ing machine in the room-I are delivered by means vof conveyors 8 and 9and turnstiles |21, |28 to a discharge mechanism |0 in the wall I8 andare grouped in a; line in front of a gate 55' which closes the room froma 'transfer chamber 60 of the discharge mechanism I0. Valve ygate 56' isbalanced by weights 95 o n shaft 94' in the usual manner. After a groupof /cans have thus been assembled on conveyor 9 and held by a stop plate|25 the gate 56' is lifted and fthe cans areY transmitted to and throughthe chamber 60. The cycle of operation for thedischarge of the cans fromthe sealing room is as follows referring to Figs. 19 to 23:-

After the gate 56' has been raised by a plunger in a cylinder 58', thecans are pushed intothe valve chamber 60' from the conveyor by means ofa push bar/10' operated by plungers in cylinders 12 which arelpreferably mounted in the housing or other suitable part of sealingmachine 3. Pushbar 10Q/when in normal location, that is, with itsplungers retracted,` also serves as a guide for the cans. After thepushbar has been withdrawn from the valve chamber, valve gate 56 islowered depressing a lplunger bar 14 and closing the chamber. -Air ispermitted to enter the chamber through alrducts 13 eing excluded fromthe room I by the loweredvgate 56'. A

closure plate 50 formingthe outer wall of the v of containers.

chamber is then withdrawn by means of a plunger 65 in cylinder 66 on astationary crossbeam 31 which in turn is mounted on brackets 6| on outerends of the chamber 60. Coverplate 50 is slidably held on these bracketsin a similar manner as that shown on the previously described inputmechanism 6, also having a rack and gear mechanism with a shaft 63 toprevent binding.

In order to receive the cans from withinA the valve chamber, see Fig.21, a carriage 75 is provided and mechanisms to lower and raise thesame, identical in construction as those shown, Figs. 3 and 4..

After carriage 15 has been raised to a height level with the floor ofthe chamber 60', the cans are placed onto the carriage by means of atransfer device |25 comprising two plungers with rods |29 movable incylinders |30. The latter are mounted at the outer ends of the frontwall, of chamber 60 on brackets 6 I in any suitable manner. To plungerrods |29 are fastened oblong shaped rod carriers |36, Fig. 9, with whichis movable in a vertical direction, a transfer rod |35. This rod whichis shown tohave 'a rectangular cross section is ordinarily locatedwithin a groove, extending the length of the floor 55 of the valvechamber.

Beyond the outer ends of this groove, the floor 55' is sunk in, theapproximate height of the rod, to give space for'the rod carriers tomove back and forth. ,Y

Transfer rod |35 is lifted out of the groove by meansof two leversl |31pivoted in the Wall of the valve chamber at both ends of the valve gate56'.

One arm of each lever underlies the lower surface of transfer rod |35,Fig. 8, while the other arm is actuated by a nose |38 on the lower partof the valve gate. When the latter has reached its lowest position, thetransfer rod |35 will haveA been raised out of the groove as shown indotted lines of Fig. 8, as well as Figs. and 21.

After the rod has thus been released and the coverplate 50' as Well ascarriage 15 hasbeen .placed in the positions shown in Fig. 2l, plungerrods |29 are caused to move cans 4 from the chamber' tothe carriage bymeans of rod |35. Here the cans will be lowered by the carriagemechanism and automatically placed onto the conveyor After this, thecover plate 50 will return, to close the chamber. After an exhaustion ofair from the valve chamber, valve gate 56 may l again be raised for thereception of a new group This will permit transfer rod |35 to sink intoits groove.

Transfer rod |35 is bent backward near its end |39 as shown in Fig. 7 soas to permitthe active part of the rod to push the cans sufliciently farout of the chamber. y

In the description of the lowering device 2| of the discharge mechanism,the same carriage operating device as that shown in Figs.l3 and 4 isillustrated. It is understood however that the mechanism shown in Figs.24, 25, and 26 may also be used, if sodesired.

General operating mechanisms The vsealing or capping machine 3 is drivenin synchronism with the timing or operation of the power take-offshafts.

pose these various mechanisms are driven and conti-,oiled by the motorI5 through a speed reduction unit |50, Figs. 1 and 2, which has two Oneof these shafts connects with gear and chain transmissions I5I, |52,which in turn drive the control valves I9 and I9' mounted on supports|53 on their respective valve chambers 60 and 60'.

The other power take-off shaft'of the reduction unlt- |50 drives avertically disposed transmission shaft |55 passing through a stuing box|56 into the sealing room and connecting through suitable gearing withthe drive shaft |51 of sealing machine 3 for the operation of same.

The drive shaft |51 through a chain drive |58 also rotates a conveyortransmission shaft |60 vjournalled on brackets I6I on the walls I1 andI8 of the sealing room. Shaft |60 drives the aprons of conveyors 1 and 9in like directions ofy travel. A shaft |62 at the outlet end of thesealing machine 3 drives the conveyor 8.

Conveyor Il, operating with the vdischarge mechanism I is driven by amotor not shown on the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2.

The air operating devices of the various mechanisms comprise a motordrive I6 for the operation of two high vacuum pumps |65, |66 andprovided with conventional means of collecting dust, etc. Pump I 65withdraws air from sealing-room through a suction pipe |61 having aStandard main valve |68. Discharge pipe |69 of pump |65 leading intofreed space may have any suitable length desired. Pump |66 is used forthe withdrawal offair from the vacuum chambers 60 and 60' and theoperation as well as control ofthe various cylinders forming part of therespective intake and discharge mechanisms 6 and I0 as illustrateddlagrammatically in Fig. 11.

Main suction pipe |10 connects pump |66 with control valves I9 and I9'Figs. 11-14 both of which are identical in their structural features. Inreferring to valve I9, .housing 1| with its respective rear .and frontplates |12, |13 has a vacuum chamber |14 within which is rotatable acontrol disc |15 mounted on shaft |11 driven by transmission II, Fig. l.j

Control disc |15 is held presse'd against the inner surface of frontplate |13 by means of a spiral spring |19 centrally located `on shaft|11. The upper half of plate |13 is provided with two rows of holese'ach arranged on arcs. Holes |8I of the row of the smaller arc, connectdirect with the atmosphere, while those of the larger arc and radiallyarranged with the other are provided lwith pipes |82l which coinectlwith the various cylinders of the machine. f

Control disc |15 is provided with a valve connecting hole |80,permitting theair to be withdrawn from-either end of the cylinders whileslowly passing over the openings of the cylinderconnecting pipes |82.Control disc |15 is also provided with two air pockets |85, formed togive a free passage of air through one or more holes |8| and one or moreof the air-exhausted pipes |82, thuspermitting the, air to enter intothose cylinders which had' previously done their work during a cycle,and making the 'same ready for their next operation.

The arrangement of pipe connections between control valve |9 and thecylinders 58, 66, 12 and 80 is such that the operation of the rotatingcontrol disc coincides with the sequence of the operation of thecylinders and the respective stages of displacements ofthe/cans. It willbe noted'that the first of the various pipes '|82,-as read in clockwisedirection,-connects with cylinder 58. This will raise valve gate 56,Fig. 17, as soon as hole |80 passes over the opening of this first pipe.The second pipe connection is for the operation of cylinders 12 to pushthe cans onto the conveyor and so forth until the cycle of operationha's been completed and the plunger of cylinder 66 presses cover plate50 against valve chamber 60, Fig. 17.

During the next one-half of the revolution of control disc |15, nocylinders are operated, leaving pump |66 free to exhaust air from valvechamber 60. This is done in the following manner:

Pipe line |10 connects with a pipe |86 having several branches threebeing shown by way of example, eachleading to a vacuum pressureregulator |81. operated by respective cams |68 rotated by the shaft |11of the control valve. Each regulator is connectedwith a pipe |89 whichleads to air ducts 13 of valve chamber 60. Each regulator is set for adifferent pressure and the timing for operation is such that theregulator for high air-pressure and therefore low vacuum will beoperated on lrst bya respectively active cam, the regulator for mediumpressure will be acted upon second and the other regulator third. Eachcam |88 is designed to retain its respective pressure regulator in anoperated position untill the last cam has acted on its respectiveregulator as shown by means of the cam surfaces, the lengths of whichoverlap each other. 'I'he result is that the air is withdrawn from thevalve chamber progressively so that the contents in the cans will besubjected to a gradual uninterrupted withdrawal of air duringapproximately one-half of a revolution of control disc |15. This gradualand constant withdrawal will not disturb the contents in the cans andpermit the creation of ahigher vacuum in the chamber within acomparatively short period. After the air has been exhausted, aconnection is established with the sealing room, by means of valve gate56 which is to be raised, as depicted 'in Fig. 17. After the cans havereached the sealing room and the chamber is closed'again, alr isadmitted into the chamber in order to release the pressure on coverplate 50 before moving the same. A release valve |9-I is provided forthis purpose. Itis connected to the chamber through piping |89, 13 andis. acted upon by a cam I 92'on shaft 4| 11 at a moment shortly aftervalve gate 56 has been lowered.

The cycle of operation of the discharge mechanism I0 is practicallyidentical with that of the intake mechanism. Control valve i9 permitsthe operation of the various cylinders connected with pipe lines |82' inthe manner previously described. Shaft |11' of the control valve rotatescams |88', |92' for the operation of a respective pressure regulator |81and release valv ISI for the purpose described above. The movements ofthe containers passing toward, through, and from the sealing room varyin regard to the group formations and directions of feed. After anendwise directed movement of containers on conveyor 5, the group formedthereon istransmitted into chamber 60 in a frontage formation. After theair has been exhausted and gate 56 has been raised, a second frontageformationfeed takes place. When the group has `reached conveyor 1 it issubjected to an endwise h directed feed toward the seaing machine.

.which are frontwisedirected when passing through chamber 60 and whenreaching conveyor will again travel in an endwise directed feed. Eachgroup will thus be subjected to successive changes in direction, whichwill take place after every second group movement into, within and outof said sealing room.

, In order to permit an attendant of the machine a certain control overtheoperation of the closing and opening elements ofthe chambers 60 and60', an independent motion' valve |90 is provided, whch, when opened,joins the main pipe line ,|10 with two independent sets `of pipes |95and |95', permitting the air to be Withdrawn from respective cylinders58, 58' and 66, 66 with which the independent pipes are connected. Thiswill raise the respective valve gates and remove the respective coverplates from the chambers, so as to make the latter accessible and permitthe operator to clean the s ame or remove cans therefrom if, forsome-reason or.0ther, the sealing machine has to be stopped. 'Iheindependent valve |90 will also act as a safety valve in that it caninstantly stop all movements of the intake and discharge mechanisms,while at the same time keeping open the access through the valve fromthe sealing room. Door 235 in one of the walls of the sealing roompermits the operator to enter the latter.

The sealing machine as shownin Figs. 41, 42 comprises in the mainconventlonalrotary inlet conveyors |93 operating toward the sealing head|90 and a rotary discharge conveyor |94 fora delivery of containers fromthe sealing -head to conveyor 8. Sealing head |90 is operatable duringits rotation bystationary cams |96, |91, and |98, the latter of whichmay be fastened to the inner surface of the wall of sealing room I. Afurther and detailed description of this machine is not deemed necessaryin that it does not form a part of this invention.l Sealers of this orsimilar types are suciently known and purchasable on the market. Anytype thereof may be employed, if so desired.

While the contents in jars, cans and other containers are mostlysubjected to a vacuumizing process before sealing, it is in some casesdesirable to seal these contents in a .selected gas or gases.

In-order to do this the sealing room is lled with a gas, by means ofpump |65 or other suitable contrivance. Exhaust pump |65 could beconverted into a pressure pump, -so that the gas drawn from the inletpipe |69 will be transmitted through pipe |61 into the room underpressure. This room is also provided with a mechanism which will preventa loss of gas while the containers are moved into and out of the sealingroom.

Fig. 43 illustrates respective inlet and outlet valve chambers 60a and60h, each being connected with respective pipes 13a, 13b whichare'connected with piping |89a leading tol various pressure regulators |81a,as well as release valves |9|a. These regulators and valves are operatedby cams li-.orn shafts |11a, |11b connected to two rotary control valvesl(not shown) and operated in the manner previously described. Thepressure regulators of bothl chambers are each connected by pipes 86a,which lead to the main pipe |10a.

The new feature of the arrangement shown in Fig. 43 is a mechanism whichcomprises a suction pump 225, connected by means of pipes 226 A Y ,trolvalves.

The outlet pipe 23| of the pump is connected to any suitable wallportion 232 of sealing room la.

The operation of the sealing apparatus in connection with a gas lledsealing room can be described as follows:

After the air has been exhausted from the valve chamber 60a by means ofsuction pump 225, valve gate 56 will be raised, see Fig. 17, permittingthe gas in the sealing room to enter the chamber and contact with thecontents of the cans. After the cans have been transmitted from thechamber onto the conveyor in the sealing room and the inner gate hasagain been lowered, cam 229 will have opened valve 221, permittingsuction pump 225 to transfer the gas in the valve chamber back into thesealing room. After the gas has left the valve chamber and cam 229 hasleft its valve, cam |92a will open valve |9|a to permit air to enter thechamber and facilitate the removal of cover plate 50, Fig. 15, throughthe elimination of air pressure on the same. i

I When removing the sealed cans from the seal- M odifedA intake anddischarge mechanisms AThe mechanisms shown in'Figs. 27 to 40 illustratemodified forms of construction of intake arrangements having a cycle ofoperation different from the one previously described.

Referring to Figs. 27 to 34 containers d on con veyor 5a are placed bythe latter in front of a valve chamber 60a. After valve gate 50a hasbeen raised by means of a cylinder'66'a, ',the cans yare pushed into thevalve chamber by a cylinderoperated transmitter or push device 22a.yValve gate a. is lowered again to permit air to be exhausted from thechamber. Valve gate 56a will then be raised by means of cylinder 58a,Figs. 28, 32, to permit the containers to be transferred onto a platformof an ante-chamber or resting place 200 of the sealing room. Thecontainers are moved into the ante-chamber by means of a transmitter bar20|, Fig. 29, vertically slideable on its ends invbar holders 202 inform of brackets fastened to the plunger rods of cylinders 205. 'Ihereason for making the bar vertically slideable in its holders is tokeepvthe bar out of the way, while a new group of cans is pushed intochamber 60a. This is accomplished by having bar 20| rest on a cleat 206of the lower inner section of gate 50a, Whenthe latter isin a raisedposition.

Push bar 201 which may also bereferred to as a transmitter-and whichmoves the containers` from the ante-chamber 200 onto the conveyor ||a ofthe sealing room, is operated by means of cylinders 208 located at thefarthest ends of valve chamber 60a and fastened to auxiliary walls 209.Bar 201 in holders 203 is also raised by a cleat on valve gate 56a inorder to clear the way for the containers coming from valve chamber 60a,Fig. 32.

Both gates 50a and 55a may be provided with respective counterbalancingmechanisms 2 I 2 I2.

The various. stages of operation as shown in Figs. 3l to 34 subject thecontents of the cans to a'. longer process of air exhaustion than thosedepicted in the previously described mechanism, Qn,.account of theprovision of an ante-chamber 'orresting place in the sealing room.

The mechanism of Figs. 27, 28 does not require a\ lifting and loweringdevice but otherwise retains all the principal features of thepreviously described mechanisms.

T'he difference of the mechanism of Fig. 35 over that of Figs, 27, 28is, that in the latter the push bar 201 with its operating cylinders 208is4 `left out and that the front row of cans when 2| 8 fastened to thefront walls on the sides of valve chamber 60h. i The latter isprovided'A with valve gates 50h 'and 56h operated in a manner alike tothat previously described. The containersare-moved from conveyor 5b intovalve chamber, Fig. 38, by means of a pusher device 22b lidentical inconstruction with that, shown on Figs. 27, 28. After the pusher has beenwithdrawn and valve gate 50h lowered, the air .is withdrawn and valvegate 56h is raised, Fig. 39. Shortly after this, push bar 2 l5 is setinto operation moving the cans into the valve chamber and at the sainetime pushing the cans of ante-cham ber or resting place 220 ontoconveyor IIb of the sealing room as shown in Fig. 36. In order toprevent those cans, located on each end of a row, from moving outsideways, side Walls 2 |1 are provided, which are preferably held to theinner top sur-A face of the valve gate chamber.

The modification of Fig. 40 over the construction shown in Fig. 35consists in showing the former without the ante-chamber 220 of thesealing room. 'I'he containers moved from the valve chamber maytherefore be transferred directly to the conveyor IIb, if so desired.

While the modifications shown in Figs. 27 to 40 are shown' and have beendescribed as intake mechanisms, it is quite evident that they may alsobe employed as discharge mechanisms requiring but a few alterations,similar to those made with the discharge mechanism I0 of Fig. '1.

From the foregoing description ofour invention, including the variousmodifications thereof, there will be obvious numerous advantageous andnovel features.

Sornc of the main characteristics thereof are the displacement ofcontainers from a lconveyor 'to a sealing machine with a considerablegain in time for the vacuumizing of the contents in the cans. This gainis obtained by means of movingijihe-` containers in groups into aprevacuum chamber in which the air is taken from the whole Anothercharacteristic of our invention is the provision of applying the airexhaust to the containers in a gradual manner and to also subject thisexhaust to the cans during a comparatively long period, which may b'emade to vary by changing the speedof the control valve.

Another novel and advantageous feature of our invention is that weprovide means through which the contents of the-sealable container arenot alone subjected to a vacuumizing process in the manner described,but that they may be contacted with a certain desirable gas or gasesright after vacuumizing, in such a manner that after the gas-chargedcans have been sealed, comparatively no outside losses of gases willhave been sustained, during the process o f conveying the cans into andout of the sealing room and its respective mechanisms.

While these and various other novel features described are obtained bymeans of certain denite arrangements of mechanisms as well as methods ofoperation, we wish to have it understood that the same may be greatlymodified if so desired, without however departing from the spirit of ourinvention.

It might be desirable for instance to have the vvarious cylindersoperated by air pressure instead of suction. 'I'his may easily be doneby connecting'pipes |86, |85 `of Figs. 1 and 11, to an air exhaustindependently operated by motor I6 and changing pipe |61 of pump |65from the exhaust to the pressure side thereof. v

It is` further understood that the various mechanisms cn the outside ofthe sealing machine may be located differently and that for` instancethe motors and pump may be stationed on the floor and either one of theintake or output ,mechanisms be mounted vto walls which are at rightangles instead of parallel to each other.

It is also understood that a reference to the various transmittingdevices as conveyances or conveyors is to be interpreted in the broadestmeaning of the term.

The sealing room as shown in Figs. 1A and 2 may of course be formed insuch a manner as to reduce the space within to a minimum, thereby savingpower in exhausting air therefrom, or it may, if so desired be furnishedwith two or more sealing machines, with a provision of two or more inletand 'output valve chambers and conveyances to suit the conditions.

Inreferring to a space as being air-free in some of the following claimsit is understood that this term impliesthe meaning that the sealingroommay either be air-exhausted or lled with a gas other than air.

Having describedour invention, what we con- Sider to be new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is: v

l. Apparatus of the type described comprising means for advancingcontainers in sequence to a grouped position, a room, a chamber betweensaid room and said grouping position, means to progrcssivey modify theg'as within said chamber from atmospheric; condition to the 'conditionwithin said room, and means to transfer said grouped containers betweensaid chamber and said room Without substantialchange in gaseous content.

2.; Apparatus for .transferring and subjecting containers to vacuumcomprising a room, means to bring a series ofcontainers in sequence intoan aligned group, means to advance said containers as a group in adirection at an angle to the line of alignment, means to progressivelywithdraw gas from said group of containers, and means to movesaidcontainers into said lroom after said withdrawal of gas,

3. Apparatus for transferring and subjecting containers to vacuumcomprising a room, means to bring a series of containers in sequenceinto an aligned group, means to advance said containers as a group in adirection at an' angle to the line of alignment, means to progressivelywithdraw gas from said group of containers, means to movey saidcontainers into said room after said Withdrawal of gas, and means foradvancing said containers in individual sequence after entering saidroom.

4. Apparatus for removing containers from a vacuum room which comprisesmeans for collectv ing said containers in a group Within the room, a.

transfer chamber, means for transferring said containers'in a group tosaid transfer chamber, mean-s to close said transfer chamber from saidroom, and means to transfer containers as a group from said chamber.

5. Apparatus for feeding containers to a seal-l ing room which comprisesmeans for moving containers in le to a collecting space, means to move agroup of said containers sidewise from said collecting space to saidsealing room, and means to interrupt 'said sidewise movement andprogressively Withdraw gases therefrom before entering said sealingroom. f

6. A method of feeding lled containers under a change in gaseouspressure which comprises assembling said filled containers upright in agroup, subjecting said containers in said group simultaneously to aprogressive alteration of gaseous pressure, and moving said group ofcontainers into an atmosphere similar to the altered gas content of saidgroup. i

7. A method of feeding filled containers under a change in gaseouspressure which comprises assembling said filled containers upright intoa group, subjecting said containers in said group simultaneously to anuninterrupted alteration of gaseous pressure, moving said group ofcontainers into an atmosphere'similar to the altered gas content of saidgroup, and moving said containers individually out of said group withinsaid atmosphere.

8. A method of feeding filled containers under a change in gaseouspressures which comprises assembling a group of filled containersupright in a straight line, progressively reducing pressure on saidgroup, and introducing said group into an atmosphere of similar reducedpressure in a direction at an-angle tothe alignment of said containers.

9. A method of feeding filled containers under a change in gaseouspressures which comprises assembling a group of filled containers in astraight line, progressively reducing pressure on said group,introducing said group into an atmosphere of similar reduced pressure ina direction at an angle to the alignment of said containers, anddistributing said containers separately from said alignment within saidatmosphere. 10. A method of feeding filled containers under a change ingaseous pressures which comprises moving lindividual containers in file,bringing them to rest in an aligned group, moving said aligned filledcontainers as a group at an angle toward an inclosure, constantlymodifying the gas within said filled containers to substantially that ofsaid inclosure, and then introducing said containers into saidinclosure.

11. Amethod of feeding filled containers under a change in gaseouspressures which comprises moving containers in file to form a group ofaligned containers, then moving said lled containers as a group at anangle into an inclosure of dierent gaseous condition from that in saidcontainers, and constantly modifying the gaseous condition in saidfilledcontainers in group formation to that within said inclosure beforetheir introduction into the latter.

A 12. A method of supplying lled containers for packaging in aninclosure of different gaseous` containers as a group into saidinclosure, progressively changing the gaseous condition within saidfilled containers after assembly in a group and prior to their entranceinto said inclosure to substantially the condition in said inclosure,and moving said containers in sequence from their group position afterentrance into said inclosure.

13. A method of introducing filled4 containers into an inclosure underreduced pressure for sealing therein which comprises .assembling saidcontainers in a group, enclosing said group, progressively reducing 'thegas pressure of filled containers in said enclosed group to thepressurein said inclosure, and introducing said group While under reducedpressure, into said inclosure.

14. -A method of introducing lled containers into an inclosure underreduced pressure which comprises supplying said containers in a file toan aligned group, moving said group at an angle t their previousmovement from their position of alignment, enclosing said filledcontainers in said group, progressively reducing the gas pressure onsaid enclosed g moving said filled containers as a group underl saidreduced pressure into said inclosure, and thereafter moving saidcontainers from said groups in sequence.

l5. A method of supplying lled containers to a sealing room having aselected gas which comprises, enclosing said containers, graduallywithdrawing air from said enclosed containers to avoid disturbance ofthe material therein, admitting selected gas to said enclosedcontainers, and admitting said containers to said room.

16. A method of supplying lled containers to a sealing room having aselected gas which comprises, enclosing said containers in groups,gradually withdrawing air from said enclosed containers to avoiddisturbance of the material therein, admitting selected gas to saidenclosed containers, and admitting said containers to said room.

17. A method of supplying and withdrawing containers to and from a roomhaving a selected gas which comprises, enclosing said containers,withdrawing air from said enclosed containers, admitting selected gas tosaid enclosed containers, admitting said containers to said room fortreatment therein, enclosing and isolating said containers from saidroom, withdrawing enclosed gas from about said containers, anddischarging said containers to the atmosphere.

18. A method of supplying and withdrawing containers to and from a roomhaving a selected from said room, withdrawing the enclosed gas fromabout said containers, and discharging said containers to theatmosphere.

20.' Apparatus for supplying and withdrawing containers to and from aroom having a selected gas which comprises, means for enclosing saidcontainers, means for withdrawing air from said enclosed containers,means for admitting selected gas to said enclosed containers, means foradmitting said containers to said room for treatment therein, means forenclosing and isolating said containers from said room, means forwithdrawing enclosed gas from about said containers, and means fordischarging said containers to the atmosphere.

21. Apparatus for supplying and withdrawing containers to and from asealing room having a selected gas which comprises, means for enclosingsaid containers in groups, means for withdrawing air from said enclosedcontainers, means for admitting selected gas to said enclosedcontainers, means for admitting said containers to said sealing room,sealing means in said room, means for enclosing and isolating saidcontainers from said room, means for withdrawing enclosed gas from aboutsaid containers, and means for discharging said containers to theatmosphere.

22. Apparatus for withdrawing containers from a. room having a selectedgas content which comprises, means for enclosing and means for isolatingsaid containers from said room, means for withdrawing the enclosed gasfrom about said containers, and means for discharging said containers tothe atmosphere.

23. Apparatus for supplying containers to a room which comprises achamber, pneumatic means to open and close said chamber to atmosphere,pneumatic means to open and close said Chamber to said room, andpneumatic means to transfer containers into and from said chamber intimed relation to the opening and closing of said chamber to atmosphereand to said room.

24. Apparatus .for supplying containers to a room which comprisesva-chamber, pneumatic means to open and close said chamber to atmosphere,pneumatic means to open and'v close said chamber to said room, pneumaticmeans to transfer containers into and from said chamber in timedrelation to the opening and closing of said chamber to atmosphere and tosaid room, and means to time the opening and closingA of said chamberalternately to said room and to atmosphere.

25. Apparatus for sealing containers under air free conditions,comprising a sealing room, means to regulate the pressure of the spacefilling medium in said room, a sealing machine therein, a valvechamber,` means to transmit containers through said valve chamber tosaid sealing machine for sealing purposes, means to interrupt themovement of the containers while in said chamber and further means tovary the gaseous pressure on said containers at a rate free from abruptchange.

26. Apparatus for sealing containers under air free conditions,comprising a sealing room, means to regulate the pressure of the spacefilling medium in said room, ay sealing machine therein, a valvechamber, means to transmit containers through said valve chamber to saidsealing machine for sealing purposes, means to interrupt the movement ofthe containers while in said chamber and further means to Vary thegaseous pressure in said chamber at a rate free from abrupt change.

27. In mechanisms of the character described, a sealing room, sealingappliances for containers within said room, inlet and outlet chambers,

means to open and clos'e said chambers to said room and to atmosphere,conveyors to transmit containers to and from said respective chambers,`

fluid operated mechanisms to transmit the containers from the inletchamber into the sealing lroom and from the sealing room to the outletchamber, and timing means to control the supply and exhaust of fluid tosaid mechanisms in sequence.

28. In mechanisms of the character described, asealing room, means toexhaust air therefrom, sealing appliances for containers within saidroom, fluid operated mechanisms to transmit containers into and out ofthe sealing room, and

means to control the supply of iluid to said mechanism in timedsequence. i l

29. In mechanisms of the character described, a sealing room, means toexhaust air therefrom, sealing appliances for containers within saidroom, conveyances to transmit containers to said sealing appliances,fluid operated means to transmit the containers in to .the sealing roomin groups and means to exhaust air from said groups of containers whilebeing transmitted to said room.

30,. Iny mechanisms of the character described,

a sealing room, means to exhaust air therefrom,

sealing appliances for containers within said room, and fluid operatedmechanisms to transmit containers into and out of the sealing room ingroups forming a straight row.

31. In mechanisms of the character described,

n and comprising means for lifting groups of containers in a rowupwardly toward said sealing l room. l

33. In mechanisms oi the character described, a pressure controllablesealing room with sealing appliances therein, valve chambers, conveyingmechanisms for the delivery of containers through one of said chambersto said room and the discharge from said room through the'otherchamber,l said conveying mechanism comprising vertically operatedcarrying devices to deliver containers in groups in a row at an angletol the length of said row, and'close said chambers altrnatively to saidroom and to the atmosphere a pressure controllable sealing room withsealing appliances therein, conveying mechanisms for the delivery anddischarge ci.' containers to and the extraction of air in sequenceindependently from the sealing room and its appliances, said conveyingmechanisms comprising uid operated transmitting devices and means tocontrol the operation of said devices in cycles for balanced deliveryand discharge ofthe containers.

35. In mechanisms of the character described, a pressure controllablesealing room with sealing appliances therein', valve chambers forming apart with the housing of the sealing room, fluid operated valve gates toopen and close said chambers to atmosphere and to said room,l means toWithdraw ,air from said chambers, conveying mechanisms for the deliveryand discharge of containers to and from the sealing room and itsappliances, said conveying mechanisms comprising uid operatedtransmitting devices and means to control the alternate operation `ofthe valve gates, the transmitting devices and the withdrawal of air incyclic sequence to deliver and discharge the containers to and from theroom.

- 36. In mechanisms of the character described,

a sealing room, valve chambers delivering to and from the sealing room,fluid operated valves to open and close 'said chambers alternatively to-said room and to atmosphere, means to extract air from said chambers,fluid operated conveying mechanisms for the delivery and discharge ofcontainers through said chambers to and from the sealing roomv and meansto control the operation.of the valves, the transmitting devices and fordelivery and discharge of containers to and from the room.

37. In mechanisms ofthe'character described, a sealing room havingsealing appliances therein, valve chambers delivering to and from thesealing room, uid operated valvey gates to open and close said chambersalternatively to said room and to atmosphere, means to -exhaust thegaseous content of said chambers, conveying mechanisms for the deliveryand discharge of containers to and froxnthe sealing room and itsappliances, said conveying mechanisms comprising fluid operatedtransmitting devices to convey containers in groups, and means tocontrol the operation of the valve gates, the transmitting devices andthe exhaustion of gases in sequence for'the delivery and discharge ofthe containers to and from the room. Y

38. In mechanisms of the character described, a. vacuum controllablesealing room with sealing appliances therein, valve chambers deliveringto and from said sealing room, vertically movableair-operated valvegates to open and close said chambers alternatively to said room and tothe atmosphere, means to exhaust air from said chamber, conveying.mechanisms for the delivery and discharge of containers through saidchambers to and from the sealing room and its appliances, said conveyingmechanisms comprising vertically and horizontally movable iiuid oper-39. In mechanisms of the character described, l

ated transmitting devices to convey containers in groups, means toactuate the sealing appliances in cooperative relation with theconveying mechanisms, the control for the actuation of the valve gates,the transmitting devices and for the ex -haustion of air'to comprisevalve elements operable in synchronism with the cycle 0f operation ofthe sealing appliances. f

an enclosed gas filled room for sealing containers under gas, sealingappliances therein, valve chambers through which containers pass to andfrom the enclosed space, and means to retrieve Athe gas passing into thevalve chambers during the process of their operation..

40. In mechanisms of the character described, an enclosed gas lled room`for sealing containers under gas, sealing appliances therein, valvechambers through which containers pass to and from the enclosed room,and means to transfer the gas from thevalve chamber back into said room.

41. In mechanisms of the character described, an enclosed air free spacefor sealing containers,

sealing appliances therein, an operable enclosurethrough whichcontainers pass into the lenclosed space, means, movable horizontally,to move a group of containers in single line formation in horizontaldirection through said enclosure, and movable vertically, to clear saidcontainers, and return to its original position.

42. 'Ihe method of conveying scalable containers through a changingatmosphere, comprising enclosing aplurality of lled containers,simultaneously exhausting air from the enclosed containers at a gradualrate to avoid disturbing contents, thereafter transferring thecontainers in a group into a space having a reduced atmospheric pressureand sealing said containers While in said space. A

43. Apparatus for removing containers from an enclosed room under otherthan atmospheric conditions which comprises a chamber, means foralternately placing said chamberinto communication with said room andisolating said chamber from said room, means for transferring containersfrom said room to said chamber, means for alternatively openingcommunication from said chamber to the atmosphere and closing saidchamberfrom the atmosphere, means for removing said containers from saidchamber to the atmosphere, means for gradually evacuating said chamberwhile closed from said room and from the atmosphere. r

44. Apparatus for transferring containers to and from a room maintainedunder non-atmospheric conditions which comprises an inlet chamber and an.outlet chamber for said room, means for alternatively and successivelyopening and closing said chambersto the atmosphere andto lsaid room,means for evacuating air from said chambers between said openingperiods, means to transferi containers to and from said room throughsaid inlet and outlet chambers, respectively, separate timing means forsaid inlet and loutlet chambers to .control the opening and closing,transfer of containers and evacuation,7 and means fory synchronouslydriving said timing means; l

45. Apparatus for transferring lcontainers to and from a roomvmaintained under non-atmospheric conditions which comprises an inletchamber and an outlet chamber for said room, fluid operated means foralternatively and successively opening and ,closing said chambers to theatmosphere and to said room, means for evacuating' air from saidchambers between said opening periods, fluid operated means to transfercontainers to and from said roomv through s aid inlet and outletchambers, lrespectively, separate timing means for said inlet and outletchambers to control the opening and closing and transfer of contain-

